I'm building an app right now, my first iOS app. It's simple, and I don't necessarily expect it to be a blockbuster. As a matter of fact, I'm not building it to make money at all. I'm building it for the experience, as you do. But I'm giving a lot of thought to monetization because hey, just maybe it could get big.

My super-power is multiplicative!

Which has lead me to think quite a bit recently about monetization. I think that in some circles, monetization is a bit of a taboo topic. After all, shouldn't everything be free?!?! I mean, I'm a developer, an agent for human good. I should use these skills for the betterment of the human race! My super-power, while still relatively uncommon, when paired with the super-powers of others is multiplicative! In light of that, should I not do everything I possibly can to make the product of my skills as widely available as I can, and for free?

Well, yes, and no. I should make my skills as widely available as I can, but not for free.

"But why not free?" you might ask.

If we ignore those locally in favor of those global, we do a disservice to those around us that are most in need

It's a pretty simple equation, actually: If my family cannot eat, if they do not have a roof over their head, if they don't have the medical coverage that they need, then I have failed in my first duty, which is not to the human race, but is more specifically to my family. How can I provide for the general human race if I cannot provide for those closest to me? Global thinking is great, but if we ignore those locally in favor of those global, we do a disservice to those around us that are most in need.

In light of that, I can honestly say that monetization is not evil. Monetization is a means to, instead, provide for those around us.